New or used?

4_the_pocket · Post by **4_the_pocket** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:32 pm

Trying to tip the balance here with some music related threads. Sorry.

Im curious how every one is spending their money on gear these days? New or used? I can remember a time when I would never buy a cymbal without playing it first. Now, I cant remember the last time I bought a new cymbal. Ive had a lot of good luck with ebay and purchasing cymbals from trusted drum forum members. New cymbals are crazy $$$ these days. Is it the same for other instruments?

Is a used a guitar, bass, microphone purchase a better financial deal than buying new?

Discuss.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:41 pm

I have never bought a new instrument, and I havn't bought anything music related new in at least several years.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:56 pm

In my experience, it depends. In general, I find that buying instruments used is usually a sound purchase. Production line instruments are readily available on the used market in droves, so it may not make a whole lot of sense to pay full retail on a Schecter C1 when there are probably about twenty on Ebay at any given time. More custom instruments usually have a high depreciation rate and take a huge hit on the used market. Therefore, if you find something that you dig, you can get it at a relatively (key word being relatively) low price.

Though I usually not actually looking for another bass, I often check the used section of Bass Northwest (http://www.bassnw.com/usedbass.htm). They have some pretty high-end stuff for good prices (the $2500 for a used bass is relatively inexensive considering it was probably $6000+ new). You can buy used and still have the piece of mind of buying from a reputable store. I've never seen any used bass represented on there that looked anything close to being abused or not cared for.

Cabinets, on the other hand, are cool to find used, but you may benefit more from buying brand new. Speakers are moving parts, and as with any moving part, they eventually wear out. Granted, it can take years upon years for a speaker to wear out. I've bought both used and new cabs, and speaker life really wasn't a consideration in either case. However, if looking at the big picture, it may be a better idea to get two more years out of a set of drivers.

I'm not a drummer, but I'd imagine it's a similar case. Shells, if taken care of, can last you your entire career, but cymbals, depending on your playing style and how hard you hit, may be more ephemeral.

But I do like support local business, particuarly when I like the cats who work there. It may not be the most ideal thing for personal economics, but if I wanted to go buy an American Fender Jazz Bass right now and Rick or the Deathmaster had one down at Music Emporium, I'd have to give serious consideration to buying brand new.

I havn't bought anything music related new in at least several years.

Nothing rocks the James Jamerson bass tone like 10 year old strings!

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:58 pm

In the last several/few weeks, I've gotten a FullTone FatBoost, a Seymour
Duncan Pickup Booster an older Carvin X100B head and a Warehouse Vet30
speaker. First two online from used gear shops, and the head from EBay,
and the speaker directly from Warehouse.

Guitar gear, I guess I normally get used stuff that I've looked into a lot.
For things like Mic cables, etc., will get new.

Do try to frequent local stores for some things, but pretty much never get to
Altoona during business hours, and even making it to downtown State is rare.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:01 pm

I like to buy stuff used & cheap on eBay, especially from May to August when college students are in selling mode to clear out their stuff and get summer party money. I try the equipment out and what I don't want, I sell on eBay at the beginning of each traditional semester in September and January. This is when college students are paying top dollar from their semester wad of cash to stock up on musical equipment.

Overall, I make a little profit to keep the process going without new funds, but I get to check out all kinds of equipment. If there is something I really like and I need more than one of that item, I will usually buy more as an open-box or refurb with full factory warranty.

I've had better luck with used stuff than factory refurbs. About half of the refurbs end up back at the factory for warranty repair. You have to hope that they don't miss anything.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:06 pm

bassist_25 wrote:
I havn't bought anything music related new in at least several years.

well yeah... I buy strings new. And cables when I need them, which is not very frequently.

I'll also probably buy new tubes when I need them, whenever that is.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:17 pm

Haha, I just had to bust on you there, Mitch.

Now I feel socially superior as I have displayed my Internet forum alpha-ness to all who read, and I can retire to bed tonight with a smug sense of self-satisfaction.

4_the_pocket · Post by **4_the_pocket** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:18 pm

lonewolf wrote:I like to buy stuff used & cheap on eBay, especially from May to August when college students are in selling mode to clear out their stuff and get summer party money. I try the equipment out and what I don't want, I sell on eBay at the beginning of each traditional semester in September and January. This is when college students are paying top dollar from their semester wad of cash to stock up on musical equipment.

Hah! Thats cool....and smart

Ill have to keep that in mind. I have a problem letting gear go though.

Tegamal · Post by **Tegamal** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:51 pm

Amp-wise, there isn't anything made these days I'd want to buy. All I have is used options (5150s, old 2 chan dual recs, etc)

Guitar-wise, it would all depend. For the most part, I'd have to look at used, because it's about all I can afford.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:47 pm

bassist_25 wrote:Haha, I just had to bust on you there, Mitch.

Now I feel socially superior as I have displayed my Internet forum alpha-ness to all who read, and I can retire to bed tonight with a smug sense of self-satisfaction.

Might be getting off topic here a little bit, but I know there are some folks who buy used strings, flats especially.

I don't think I ever would, because it seems like after you take them off and put them back on, they are never quite the same. I've stopped boiling strings for this same reason.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:01 pm

Used PA gear lately, though I'm saving for at least one Bardel pedal, maybe two.--->JMS

hicksjd9 · Post by **hicksjd9** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:40 pm

I second on the Bardel pedals. I really want to try a stage 3 booster. I buy all my gear used and I've been fortunate to get a lot of things that I could never afford otherwise. I guess it's just my roots of growing up poor that make me always want to find a deal or do DIY projects.

shell_shooter · Post by **shell_shooter** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:04 pm

I generally buy used tho i have bought new when the price is right but when putting together my pedal board .Ebay has been awesome it has allowed me to buy close to 25 pedals "at a reasonable price"over the past few months I would try it if i didn't like it right back on ebay it went.But i was at a local guitar shop lately and ask if he had a used wah and he told me he don't carry much used cause people buy it on ebay cheap and come in to trade it.Needless to say i will not be going back there.I would say ebay is killing the local music shops but hey in these tuff times you got to do what you got to do.By the way i still got some pedals to sell

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:01 am

I'm really wishing I had a decent paying job right now so I could have some investment money to dump into some basses. It seems like everyday I come across a few dream basses that are selling used at prices that would've been considered robbery 2-3 years ago.

The moment I land me a job, I'll be building my savings back up and buying basses like mad! This economy has to pick up sometime (hopefully in my lifetime)!

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:50 am

As a snare drum whore, I've picked up some great deals on Ebay.

I don't remember exactly what I paid for each drum. But the deals were incredible for me.

70s Singerland chrome over brass (COB) 5 x 14 Gene Krupa snare.

70s Slingerland 6.5 x 14 COB Krupa snare.

70s Slingerland Super Sound King 5 x 14 COB. Slingerland's answer to the Ludwig Super Sensitive.

Manu Katche Yamaha black nickel plated brass snare prototype. Only 500 made and only 100 sold in the USA. I got it for around $200. The new ones are around $800 plus (I think). The guy even sent me the original heads.

Dennis Chambers Signature Snare. One of my best drums, but Shawn has it now. He uses it and he rents it out. Most versatile snare drum I ever owned.

You really have to know a drum's value and bid accordingly.

i picked up some other instrument items on Ebay as well.

shell_shooter · Post by **shell_shooter** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:04 am

I agree with moondoogy now is the time to buy everyone is selling and this is the best time to buy but unfortunitly when the economy does pickback up and the average man can afford that dream guitar the prices will go back up to. I say sell the wifes car make her take the bus or walk,pawn the kids xbox and go buy that dream guitar at least you will be happy hell the kids need to get outside more anyway and the wife could use the excersize

witchhunt · Post by **witchhunt** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:19 am

shell_shooter wrote: and the wife could use the excersize

Brave or stupid to go with new or used.

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:58 am

Lately most of the gear that I've bought has been off of Ebay. I don't remember the last new guitar that I bought. I'm having a guitar built, and that will be my first custom built guitar. I just got a new job making more money than I can spend, so I've been buying a lot of gear lately.

shell_shooter · Post by **shell_shooter** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:49 am

Probably more on the stupid side but I was just tring to make lite of the hard economical times. I have rescently sold a few of my toys to get a New Amp head yet at the same time I bought a used guitar Its all good. Hey when Obama shuts down the internet how bad will that srew up my ebay auctions. Just joking

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:28 am

Maybe YOU need some exercise

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:01 pm

I buy most of my gear new, and try to buy locally. Most smaller things (sticks, heads, hardware) comes from Rick and the staff at Music Emporium, or in a pinch, I can call Dale's over in Harrisburg.

Most used stuff is caveat emptor, but I did purchase Hurricane's 1980's Yamaha 6.5"x14" Brass snare drum a few months back. Had to. I coveted that thing for YEARS.

Gear wise, I'm good for now. My cymbal company sends me new stuff from time to time to demo and review for them, so I usually have some new toys to play with.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:25 pm

i've bought a few basses used. got my spector from moondoggy. got an olp from a guy on here. got the first bass i gigged with from a friend of mine for 40 bucks, used. unfortunatly, i had that bass in my kitchen a couple days ago and it fell over strings down and snapped the neck at the seam

it may have been a cheap bass, but i shimmed the neck and put a set of used bassline quarter pounder p pickups in it. all my stomp boxes i bought new, only because i couldn't find what i wanted used, and now i'm looking for a used set of in ears. used is the way to go. you get some pretty good deals, and usually, you can trust some random guy selling some random instrument a little more than some douche at guitar center. no offense to guitar center employees if there are any, but it seems most people that sell stuff on rockpage can be trustworthy.